'Suffered from hypertension, diabetes': Ex-Delhi chief secretary dies by suicide; note says no one responsible

NOIDA: Former Delhi chief secretary and municipal commissioner Rakesh Mehta, 74, was found dead at his rented flat in Sector 82 on Sunday afternoon.Police recovered a one-page note in which the retired bureaucrat referred to his illnesses and stated that no one was responsible for his death.Mehta had been living alone at Central Vihar-2 for around five years. His wife, also a retired Delhi-cadre IAS officer, and their son live in Dehradun, while their married daughter is based in London. Family members visited him in Noida from time to time.According to police, Mehta's wife last spoke to him on Saturday night. When repeated calls went unanswered on Sunday afternoon, family members alerted the society's security staff. Two guards went to his flat and found him dead in one of the rooms. A police team and a relative living nearby arrived soon afterwards.A forensic team examined the flat and collected evidence before the body was sent for an autopsy. Till late Tuesday night, the family had not lodged any complaint, though police said an inquiry had been initiated into the circumstances surrounding the death.Family members said Mehta had been suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other health problems, including tremors in his right hand and leg.A 1975-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, Mehta took charge as Delhi chief secretary in December 2007 during the Sheila Dikshit government's tenure and remained in the post until 2010. His tenure included preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, one of the biggest administrative challenges faced by the capital.Before becoming chief secretary, Mehta served in several key positions, including as MCD commissioner, chairman and managing director of Delhi Transport Corporation, and secretary (power). He was known for his focus on urban governance and public transport.During his stint at DTC, Mehta oversaw the transition away from the accident-prone Blue Line buses and the introduction of low-floor buses, which went on to become a familiar feature of Delhi's roads.Known as a media-savvy bureaucrat who pushed new projects and reforms, Mehta unveiled a 10-point agenda after taking charge as chief secretary. He also advocated greater transparency in civic administration, including changes to building bylaws, and promoted the use of technology to bring government services closer to citizens.Mehta studied at St Stephen's College, JNU and the London School of Economics. His final rites were held in Delhi on Monday.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Noida | Silver Rate in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Petrol Price in Noida | Diesel Price in Noida | CNG Price in Noida | LPG Price in NoidaStay updated with the latest Noida news. Download the TOI App.